In one case study, they mapped the social networks of engineers within an aerospace company. Activate found that after time at the organization, the greatest predictor of success was the quantity and qualities of connections a person had in their company.

For instance, if an engineer had strong relationships across departments as well as up and down the hierarchy, she was more likely to score highly on success metrics like patents filed or products brought to market — thanks to the flow of ideas and feedback that comes with having friends with varied perspectives.

But if you can't forge those idea-enabling relationships in the not-so-private confines of an office, where do you do so?